Thursday, December 26, 2019

Analysis Of Of Mice And Men By John Steinbeck

Allison Yih Schlueter Survey Comp -- 4 23 September 2014 Destroyed Dreams Have you ever dreamed of becoming someone important or doing something exciting and memorable? Would you give up or refuse to let go of your dream until you achieve it? Has that obsessive under-minded your success? Many people have dreams that they want to accomplish, but there are obstacles individuals have to cross over in order to achieve their goals, such as facing reality. In the book of Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck, the story is a tale of two drifters working from farm to farm, trying to make a living, and save some money to have their own place someday, which is their dream during the Great Depression. The characters face the hardships†¦show more content†¦Repeatedly, Lennie asks George the same questions about concerning if they will get the farm and when. This obsession is like a child needing to hear the same story over and over again, and Lennie wants George to describe the setting of the farm. Lennie’s so focused on getting the farm that he does everything under George’s guidance, because he believes that he will get the reward of living on the farm with him where he can tend rabbits. At the end of the novel, when Lennie is afraid and wants to be assured by George that everything is okay although he made the mistake with Curley’s wife, he asks again if George can paint the picture of life on the farm again. â€Å" ‘How’s it gonna be? We gonna get a little place.’ ...’For the rabbits,’ Lennie shouted...’And I get to tend the rabbits.’ ...Lennie giggled with happiness. ‘An’ live the fatta the lan’†(105). When people are slow-witted, they are simple-minded and have emotions like children. Lennie is that sort of person. Similar to a child, he needs to be continually reassured that everything he wants and needs is everything that George is going to provide. Similarly, Curley’s wife is immature and needy like a child, cont inually obsessed with wanting attention. Unfortunately, she tries to get attention from Lennie, who is too slow-witted to understand what is going on. Not realizing why she’s

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

The Big, Bad, Socialism Bug - 1280 Words

Sarah Bresnahan Dr. Hibbett English 200 September 23, 2015 The Big, Bad, Socialism Bug A known socialist, Franz Kafka was especially taken with Karl Marx’s theory of alienation. The theory states that people lose their humanity as a consequence of living in divided social classes. The worker needs the labor to live, and misses out on intrinsic human needs; the worker is a worker first, a human being second (Fay). This concept is what frames The Metamorphosis: A man loses his humanity through unfulfilling work, and while losing his ability to perform the unfulfilling work, he withers away into nothingness. After Gregor awakes to find himself transformed into a giant insect, he assumes himself just tired from working as a travelling salesman. In his inner monologue, he describes being always on the go, and specifically comments on his inability to maintain relationships. â€Å"†¦and the casual acquaintances you meet only in passing, never to see again, never to become intimate friends. To hell with it all!† (Kennedy 319) His monologue continues as he discusses how he is working for the company to pay off a family debt. When the office manager comes to check on him, Gregor scrambles to try to get the door open, and the manager comments that businessmen â€Å"†¦very often have to ignore any minor indisposition, since the demands of the business come first.† (Kennedy 323) He goes on to threaten Gregor, stating that his position at the company is not secure and his employment is inShow MoreRelatedSocialist Realism in Ngugi Wa Thiongos I Will Marry When I Want2437 Words   |  10 PagesINTRODUCTION Socialist realism, a slogan adopted by the Soviet cultural authorities in 1934 to summarize the requirements of Stalinist dogma in literature: the established techniques of 19th†century realism were to be used to represent the struggle for socialism in a positive, optimistic light. Socialist realism had its roots in neoclassicism and the traditions of realism in Russian literature of the 19th century that described the life of simple people. Socialist realism held that successful art depictsRead MoreSocialist Realism in Ngugi Wa Thiongos I Will Marry When I Want2437 Words   |  10 PagesINTRODUCTION Socialist realism, a slogan adopted by the Soviet cultural authorities in 1934 to summarize the requirements of Stalinist dogma in literature: the established techniques of 19th†century realism were to be used to represent the struggle for socialism in a positive, optimistic light. Socialist realism had its roots in neoclassicism and the traditions of realism in Russian literature of the 19th century that described the life of simple people. Socialist realism held that successful art depictsRead MoreAmerican Holidays11778 Words   |  48 Pageso Do you know anyone with a pierced nose? o Would you ever pierce your tongue? †¢ What do you think of people who dye their hair green? †¢ What do you of women who wear high heel shoes? o Do you think high heel shoes are bad for a person’s health? †¢ What fashions that you see today do you think will be out of fashion with in two years? †¢ What is your shoe size? †¢ What kind of clothes are in fashion now? †¢ What kind of clothes do you usually wear? Read MoreLogical Reasoning189930 Words   |  760 Pages Besides, he says, our stream might not have Giardia. Ill take the first drink. Juanita winces. No, don’t do that, she says. Lets just pack up and go home. When you ask her why, she explains that a friend of hers got Giardia and had a bad experience with it. She doesnt want to risk having the same experience. When you hear the details, you understand why. The symptoms are chronic diarrhea, abdominal cramps, bloating, and fatigue. Also, she says, the park signs about Giardia are

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Strategic Management for the Case Study Of Biocon India Group

Question: Describe about the Strategic Management for the Case Study Of Biocon India Group. Answer: Introduction Strategic management avails a business organisation opportunity to form and achieve specific goals through logical and steps. Indian pharmaceutical sector has grown over past few years to become one of the best-organised sectors. The industry is responsible for the development and sustenance of global medicine industry. Biocon Limited is a major part of this industry, and in this study, strategic opportunities of this organisation in the above-mentioned market have been evaluated and development strategies have been suggested based on the evaluation. Biocon Limited is a biopharmaceutical company from India. This company has brought bio-revolution in India. The founder of this company was Kiran Mazumdar Shaw. This company evolved with time from the field of enzyme manufacturing to bio-pharmaceutical. Biocon limited was established in the year 1978. It was a joint venture of Biocon India with Ireland. In the year 1998, Biocon India took over Unilever's part of the company (Bioconfoundation.org, 2016). Biocon Limited produces generic active ingredients and sells them in developed European market. Current revenue of this company is 22.40 billion INR. Mission, vision and Objectives of Biocon Limited: Vision: The organisation's main vision is to increase global healthcare to innovate and affordable biopharmaceuticals for all. Mission: The organisation wants to create intellectual asset through the process of discovery, development and research. The organisation wants to provide internationally benchmarked quality products. Biocon wants to focus on customer relationship with outstanding products. Training, empowering and monitoring are some of the techniques that the company wants to make for developing human resource development within the organisation. Objectives: The main objective of this company is to decrease the vulnerability to health associated problems to malnourished and poor people. It intends to raise aware in making the significance of the preventive health. In assistance of communities for providing health, measures are another important mission of Biocon Limited. In India, providing sanitation and public health is another vital objective of this organisation. The organisation wants in initiating education and screening for infectious diseases for preventing the diseases. In order to optimise the management of diseases, the organisation has been trying to manifest significant measures. Biocon Limited believes in the expansion of repertoire of the social protection, such as Arogya Raksha Yojana, Health micro-insurance for the most unprivileged section. Resources and Core-Capabilities of company: Resources and capabilities can be treated as the competitive advantage of the company. An organisation can have physical resources, legal resources, informational resources, relational resources and human resources. Biocon Limited has a well-managed human resource team. Current revenue of this company is 22.40 billion INR. Net income of the company at present is 3.61 billion INR (Bioconfoundation.org, 2016). This company is present in stock market. The organisation has been securing well growth with sustainable financial performance. Capabilities of the company depend on product management, pricing management, channel management and customer relation management. This company has been working in the field since 1978 with good reputation. Biocon Limited tries to improve the unmet needs of the patients. This company is the largest company in insulin making. This organisation is fully integrated company in biopharmaceutical focusing to reduce the costs in therapy. It is one of the leading companies in oncology department. This organisation has leading scientists for developing the affordable and efficacious products for all. They are working on development of the new solution in small molecules. This organisation engages scientists for technical and knowledge creation. Environmental Analysis- Pros and Cons SWOT The Indian pharmaceutical market is considered almost US $10.76 billion (Berman and Evans, 2013, p.1). The annual growth is almost 9.9% and is fast developing and creating new positions in the field of medicine through research and innovation. Strength Weakness   Cheap labour in Indian labour market   Comparatively less production cost   Availability skilled labour   Patients are treatment naive   Growing GDP, which helps common people spend more on medicine   Proper infrastructure underdeveloped   Unable to purchase expensive equipment   Separate education and research work Opportunities Threats   Great exposure to global market   Tax reduction by government   The success of new ventures   Demand in global sphere increasing   Skilled people moving out of country   Highly competitive market with new investments   The success of subsidiary unit than parent unit   Inflation of wage   Regulatory acts of government   Foreign groups are introduced in Indian market Table 1: SWOT Analysis (Source: Jayakumar, 2010, p.12) The cost of production is low and hence gets enough boosts to enhance its growth. The GDP is increasing giving more liquid money in hands of common people (Grundy et al. 2011, p.214). They are able to invest in the healthcare sector and to indirectly help the company. People are becoming more aware of their physical illness and they are heading towards treatment. New improved techniques are required to compete with the quality of products of the international market (Kor and Mesko, 2013, p.233). The equipment and machinery that Biocon India requires are quite costly and they are unable to avail all machinery (for further details refer to appendix 1). PESTLE The success of a company is very much dependent on internal and external macro and microenvironments. Both the internal and the external factors should be taken into consideration when the estimation of profit is done on the part of the management of the company. Political   Strategies of the government concerning the safety of the product made by the organisation influences its operations in a considerable manner   The internationalisation of the operations of the business organisation would be hugely influenced by the foreign policies of the government and the international relations of the Indian government with that of the target country   Indian Patent Act restricts the business organisation to secure the rights of using their innovation in term of manufacturing of the medicines which restricts the organisations capability of generating competitive advantage via research and development activities Economic   Value of money changes, which reduced the value of the seats of the company   Levy of taxes assigned by government increases the expenses of the pharmaceutical company Social   A major part of the target market believe more in homoeopathic than allopathic treatment, which restricts the business prospect of the company   Not all have the capability to buy the same amount of medicine. Technological   India is not technologically highly developed   Huge cost might be incurred in importing the machinery Legal   Drug Price Control Order 1970 has taken over the price making decision on the medicines Environmental   Regulations on noise pollution have been established   Regulations on environmental pollution have been established   Regulations on waste disposal have been introduced. Table 2: PESTLE for the external environment of Biocon India Group (Source: Lavie et al. 2012, p.1479) The Indian Patent Act, which has been introduced by the Indian government, has created a great problem (Grace, 2014, p.55) (refer to appendix 2). As opined by Casadesus-Masanell and Zhu (2013, p.466), technological advancement should be taken into consideration as it is one of the most crucial factors, which help in development of this sector. The legal procedure of the land, has taken control over the price making decision on the medicine produced by the company. The Drug Price Control Order 1970, has taken control on the pricing capability of the company. According to the law, the government has set a price for the medicines and the companies cannot cross the limit. This has created a negative impact as they have to control the price by cutting the coast in the other sections of the functioning of the organisation. Environment has been greatly affected by the industries. Hence, there are different regulations laid down by government so that the environment can be protected. The company Biocon has to limit its production and restrict its waste products. For this purpose, they had to take certain precautions like recycling the waste products and filtering the air. Competitive Life Cycle Analysis: There are four stages in the life cycle of the product. At first, the product is introduced in the market. Then the growth of the product takes place (Darroch, 2014, p.44). Then the growth level transform to the maturity level (Chen et al. 2016, p.2145). After the maturity level comes the decline stage. When at first, Biocon introduced their enzymes in the market, it was well accepted by the population and revenues started to roll in. Slowly, the enzymes were recognised in the market and it led to the popularity of the enzyme. With the popularity of the enzymes, the product reached its maximum point where it was earning huge profit. This profit led to the formation of Syngene another organisation under Biocon. Over the years, it has been seen that the popularity of enzymes fell from heights and paved for the other innovative products. Competitor analysis With the help of the competitor analysis, Biocon has been able to identify the marketing strategy with which it would evaluate the uniqueness of the product and attract the market where they want to enter or increase their sales. Currently Biocon is facing competition from companies like Alkem Lab, Ajanta Pharma, Ranbaxy Labs and many others from the size of their market and their competition. There are other small companies like Surya pharma and Ortin Labs that pose threat to Biocon. Though they are small in size, yet they are innovative in their products, they are slowly capturing the market. Market attractiveness evaluation Market insight observes that Contract Research Organisation in India has various challenges as well as it is an emerging market in India. The market of CRO did not observe boom as this slow growth in this sector took the business in present time to the emerging markets, like Indonesia and China (Cheng et al. 2014, p.22). The market values cannot be denied for the large population, attractive investment and cost-effective market. Five force analysis In recent time, the business environment has gone to extremely competitive. Each market has perfect competition. In perfect competition, no company can be price-taker (Henisz et al. 2014, p.1728). The companies are trying to create competitive advantage. Porters Five Forces model analyses the competitive advantages of a market. Contract research organisations are the pharmaceutical services providers that generally receive outsourcing from the large pharmaceutical as well as biotechs to conduct clinical trials and some of the other related services. Industry competition: In generic pharmaceuticals, it is a highly competitive market. It is important to innovate every moment to be in the field. Manty overseas companies have been doing great works in generic pharmaceuticals (Dezso and Ross, 2012, p.1078). At first, the drugs need to test and then, it can be produced in bulk. In order to be in the market, the price of the products needs to be competitive. Clinical research in India is to begin to take off and it could flourish in next few years. Figure 1: Porters Five Forces (Source: Grundy, 2011, p.2014) The threat of new entrants: For an entrepreneur, biopharmaceutical can be an option. Capital requirement of this industry is low. It is easy to create a network for distribution is easy. The government has put hindrance in the entry of this market. Having new patent is not easy (Ronda Pupo et al. 2012, p.162). The market for the generics is potential and huge. The pharmaceutical environment is dynamic. Development and new drugs play a significant role. Pharmaceuticals companies can take to direct to consumers approach to selling their products. The threat of substitutes: When the industry thrives, the demand for the specific drugs goes high. Pharmaceuticals industry has bright future, the threat of subsidiaries and biotechnology are high for the advancement of technology and researchers. Competitiveness is high and threats too (Peteraf et al. 2013, p.1389). The presence of strong multinational competitors in the market and the government's restrictions on the patent concerning the edible goods that require chemical for manufacture has increased the threat of substitute product in the market (Fjeldstad et al. 2012, p.735)(Refer to appendix 3). Identification of key success factors Value chain analysis Major factors in the value chain analysis are presented in the following figure. Figure 2: Value Chain analysis (Source: Bowersox et al. 2012, p.55) The activities of the business organisations concerning all the above-mentioned aspects determine the factors that might lead to success for the organisation. For example, the operational factors such as quality of the product and the expectations of the market determine if the company would be able to generate preference among the consumers concerning the products of the organisation. The research and development activities that Biocon India Group undertakes, distinct it from the other organisations that compete to acquire the preferences of consumers in the same market. (For further details, refer to appendix 4). In the following section the manner in which Biocon India Group generates competitive advantage for itself concerning, the above-mentioned factors have been discussed: Value analysis The voluminous target molecular reagents and customised molecules of Syngene paved the way for the early development and creation of the skills and infrastructural discovery of molecules (Kalegaonkar et al. 2012, p.65). The creation and initiation of Clingene, resulted in the loss of power and control by Biocon India Group, along with the entrapment of the central organisational culture. In the process of this creation, collaborative attempts were made to take into consideration safe and lower value business services for Clinigene, until it is capable of self-testing of the molecules and running free clinical (Walls et al. 2012, p.913). The distraction and deviation exposed by Clinigene regarding its consideration of the firm, that is, Biocon India Group, acted as a loss for the company, compelling the management to initiate the process of creation and development of the business all over again (Neffke and Henning, 2013, p.300). Planning and evaluation In order to achieve an overall growth, Biocon India Group certainly needs to expand its market share. In order to alleviate this situation, a simple yet expensive approach could be the initiation of a prospective Clinical Research Organisation (CRO). This will result in the escalation of the expertise and maintenance of stability within the relationship between the company its clients within the organisational culture (Easterbrook et al. 2011, p.869). The assistance and assurance from the Quality Assurance Company, regarding the quality of the Biocon products, encouraged and motivated the company to start their business a fresh, in spite of the deviation from Clingene. This is owing to the sharing of corporate values and trust among the employees and the other staffs (Kapferer, 2012, p.89). The high potential growth of the CRO might prove to be beneficial for Biocon, providing the scope and opportunity to Clingene regarding the careful and conscious reading and positioning within the CRO market. Strategic choice development Ansoff Matrix Ansoff matrix provides a business attempts for tracking the dependency of new and existing products in the market. In case of the existing market, the organisation needs to analyse the market penetration and product development. In new market, the organisation needs to analyse, market development and diversification (Darroch, 2014, p.35). Market penetration Market development The company wants to enhance the market share of the present products and intends to enter the markets of neighbouring countries (Gulati et al. 2012, p.576). While the first can be achieved through personal selling for the second the organisation needs to undertake outsourcing or franchising. The company needs to increase the existing customers. Biocon Limited tries to innovate in emerging market of biotechnology, research service and molecules. Restructuring can be helpful for overshadowing the competitors. The company needs to develop the geographical market through entering new markets. Pricing policies need to be adjusted as per the standards of the target market. Distribution channels such as online sites can provide assistance. The company has taken global manufacturing with cost effective way. Biocon Limited started to expand in Malaysia. Product Development Diversification The company needs to develop and research about the innovation of products with detailed analysis. They need to be the first in the market. Biocon Limited tries to innovate in insulin and molecules. They are working on oncology and next generation biotechnology. Research services, biosimilars and novel molecules are some of the products they are currently working on. It is related to growth of market to the new products. The company needs to analyse the risk strategy (Hill and Jones, 2013, p.45). The company first tries to grow the products in lab then take it to market and Biocon Limited is no exception to this. The company takes the strategy of risk assessment and able to procure reward for that. Table 3: Application of Ansoff Matrix (Source: Created by author) Deliberate Strategy: Plan for market expansion The management of Biocon India Groups can organise for a meeting to develop and create appropriate strategies for the expansion of the market share through the product and services (Refer to appendix 5). Specific The organisation might expand its sphere further through entering the neighbouring markets for which the organisation would need to outsource some of its activities in the target market Yet the policies of manufacturing and research and development would be same as the home country for ensuring that the values of the company remain the same in the target market as well Measurable This might be measured through the performance of the company in the international market Achievable The organisation has enough financial base to achieve this target Realistic Due to the current competition level of the industry and the existence of MNCs in the market the organisation has faced the need for increasing its sphere or operation hence it needs to undertake the internationalisation. This would increase the appeal of the organisation in the home market as well Time base This needs the time span of 2 years Table 3: SMART Analysis (Source: Created by Author) Emergent strategy: Hiring of qualified workers for international market expansion In order to hire qualified workers for the market expansion, the management authorities of Biocon can organise meetings regarding the recruitment of qualified workers (Ward and Peppard, 2016, p.65). Consequently, an effective organisational culture will be established where there is an existence of coordination, cooperation, stability and trust among the employees and the managerial staffs. Specific Hiring the skilled employees for the research and development process is essential for ensuring that the organisational current or future ventures are completed in a successful manner Measurable Success of this particular strategy might be evaluated based on the increased productivity of the organisation and its improved service quality For this, the organisation might use Achievable As the organisation operates in a market that has ample number of skilled employees that agree to serve in considerably low wages hence the recommendation is achievable Realistic As the strategy does not emphasise on any large expense of the company yet has the potential to improve the service and production level hence the strategy can be considered realistic Time base This strategy might be implemented in the time span of 3 months Table 4: SMART Analysis (Source: Created by Author) Choice of best-fit strategy and implementation Some strategies will emerge upon the implementation of the proposed strategies by the employees. In the process of this implementation, the creativity and productivity of the employees will be enhanced. They will gain much experience from the exposure of their skills, expertise and knowledge on a regular basis. As a consideration of the internal and the external factors, strategies for the expansion of Biocon market will enhance the reflex capability of the employees. This will provide the scope for the undertaking of actions according to the emergence of the business situations (Zhou and Li, 2012, p.1090). Evaluation of the strategic options presented above has enabled the researcher to identify that the internationalisation of the company might be essential yet it needs long-term stratification. For the immediate improvement of the organisational position in the market, the organisation needs to acquire employees that are more skilled and improve its product and service quality (Zhu and Iansiti, 2012, p.88). Conclusion After concluding the assignment, it can be clearly stated that the management of Biocon should take into consideration the Indian market. With the help of the SWOT analysis and the Pest analysis, the potential disadvantages and advantages of operating in the Indian market can be analysed. To judge the competitive advantage of the market, PORTER's theory has been used. There is huge competition in the international and national market. The recommendation is provided so that the company can improve their present condition and achieve their targets with huge success. References Books Berman, B.R. and Evans, J.R., (2013). Retail management: a strategic approach. United Kingdom:Pearson Higher Ed Darroch, J., (2014). Ansoffs Growth MatrixIn Detail. In Why Marketing to Women Doesnt Work. UK: Palgrave Macmillan Hill, C.W. and Jones, G.R., (2013). Strategic management theory. South-Western/Cengage Learning Kapferer, J.N., (2012). The new strategic brand management: Advanced insights and strategic thinking. Kogan page publishers Ward, J. and Peppard, J., (2016). The Strategic Management of Information Systems: Building a Digital Strategy. John Wiley Sons Bowersox, D.J., Closs, D.J. and Cooper, M.B., 2002. Supply chain logistics management (Vol. 2). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Journals Casadesus-Masanell, R. and Zhu, F., (2013). Business model innovation and competitive imitation: The case of sponsor based business models.Strategic management journal, 34(4), pp.464-482 Ronda Pupo, G.A. and Guerras Martin, L.., (2012). Dynamics of the evolution of the strategy concept 19622008: a co word analysis. Strategic Management Journal, 33(2), pp.162-188. Cheng, B., Ioannou, I. and Serafeim, G., (2014). Corporate social responsibility and access to finance. Strategic Management Journal, 35(1), pp.1-23 Dezs, C.L. and Ross, D.G., (2012). Does female representation in top management improve firm performance? A panel data investigation.Strategic Management Journal, 33(9), pp.1072-1089 Easterbrook, P.J., Gopalan, R., Berlin, J.A. and Matthews, D.R., 1991. Publication bias in clinical research. The Lancet, 337(8746), pp.867-872 Fjeldstad, D., Snow, C.C., Miles, R.E. and Lettl, C., (2012). The architecture of collaboration. Strategic Management Journal, 33(6), pp.734-750 Grace, C., (2014). The effect of changing intellectual property on pharmaceutical industry prospects in India and China. DFID Health Systems Resource Centre, pp.1-68 Grundy, T., (2011). Rethinking and reinventing Michael Porter's five forces model. Strategic Change, 15(5), pp.213-229 Gulati, R., Puranam, P. and Tushman, M., (2012). Meta organization design: Rethinking design in interorganizational and community contexts. Strategic Management Journal, 33(6), pp.571-586 Henisz, W.J., Dorobantu, S. and Nartey, L.J., (2014). Spinning gold: The financial returns to stakeholder engagement. Strategic Management Journal,35(12), pp.1727-1748 Jayakumar, B.P., (2010). Indian Pharma on sterod-like growth. Business Standard. 1(2), pp.12-15 Kor, Y.Y. and Mesko, A., (2013). Dynamic managerial capabilities: Configuration and orchestration of top executives' capabilities and the firm's dominant logic. Strategic Management Journal, 34(2), pp.233-244 Lavie, D., Haunschild, P.R. and Khanna, P., (2012). Organizational differences, relational mechanisms, and alliance performance. Strategic Management Journal, 33(13), pp.1453-1479 Neffke, F. and Henning, M., (2013). Skill relatedness and firm diversification.Strategic Management Journal, 34(3), pp.297-316 Peteraf, M., Di Stefano, G. and Verona, G., (2013). The elephant in the room of dynamic capabilities: Bringing two diverging conversations together.Strategic Management Journal, 34(12), pp.1389-1410 Walls, J.L., Berrone, P. and Phan, P.H., (2012). Corporate governance and environmental performance: is there really a link?. Strategic Management Journal, 33(8), pp.885-913 Zhou, K.Z. and Li, C.B., (2012). How knowledge affects radical innovation: Knowledge base, market knowledge acquisition, and internal knowledge sharing. Strategic Management Journal, 33(9), pp.1090-1102 Zhu, F. and Iansiti, M., (2012). Entry into platform based markets. Strategic Management Journal, 33(1), pp.88-106 Chen, Y.M., Liu, H.H. and Wu, H.Y.,(2016). Reputation for toughness and anti-dumping rebuttals: Competitive rivalry, perceived benefits, and stage of the product life cycle. Journal of Business Research, 69(6), pp.2145-2150. Websites Bioconfoundation.org. (2016). Biocon Foundation - Promote social and economic inclusion by ensuring that marginalized communities have equal access to healthcare services and educational opportunities. Available at: https://www.bioconfoundation.org/ [Accessed on: 10 Jul. 2016]

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Religious Teachings Carl Barth

Introduction Church Dogmatic refers to the works of Carl Barth on various doctrines of God. Theology has received a massive attention from researchers since the inception of formal learning. For a long time, various individuals have been concerned with the ability to understand God. God works in a special way.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Religious Teachings: Carl Barth – Church Dogmatic specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It has been in the interest of many scholars to create a clear understanding of the values of God. It is also their concern to help explain how human beings should relate to God.1 Carl Barth was one of the scholars who dedicated his entire live in trying to explain how this relationship works by coming up with doctrines to help clarify the issue. Theologians in the current society have increasingly found the work of this scholar highly valuable. The work of Pope Pius has had a h uge impact on the current practice of many theologians, as his principles were found to be very relevant. Although there were times when his views were nearly forgotten, current scholars have revived them with a huge impact. The works of this scholar are not only relevant to the Catholics but also to other religions. According to many contemporary scholars, the works of Carl Barth are important to both the Catholics and Protestants2. This is because of the focus of the scholar. The focus of his works is on Jesus Christ. He strongly believes that all religious matters start with Jesus. He observes that for an individual to understand Christianity, he or she must have an understanding of Jesus. Lack of proper understanding of Jesus would be a clear indicator that the individual lacks knowledge of the Christian religion. The second focus is on ethics. This scholar sums the teachings of Jesus as Ethics. Since Jesus knew that God works in an ethical way, he observed all religious princip les. Jesus’ teachings were based on acting ethically. When he was leaving the earth, he left only one commandment to be followed by all. The commandment was that people should love one another. This was meant to ensure that societies maintain ethics. When people develop love towards others, they maintain high ethical standards. Therefore, all other commandments would be automatically followed. This study seeks to unearth the assertiveness of the church as taught by Carl Barth. Thesis Statement Barth’s work was based on two fundamental factors, which are ethics and Jesus Christ. The work of this scholar is relevant to both the protestant and Catholic churches. This study is focused on analyzing his work and determining its relevance in the contemporary work.Advertising Looking for research paper on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Scholars in the contemporary world can utilize the views of Barth to bring about unity and understanding in society. Church wrangles are not good for Christians. Church leaders fight in the public implying that they serve their own interests. The views of Barth, particularly on ethics, can help in ending wrangles. Need for Research Theology is one of the most developed fields of study. It is through the guidance of the spiritual leaders that the peace can be maintained in the society. According to this scholar, religion plays a very important role in society3. Some societies have been associated with certain acts because of the kind of religion they practice.4 Therefore, a sound religious understanding based on the teachings of Jesus can help maintain cohesion in the society. According to the report by this scholar, as the number of theologians increase around the world, evil deeds also increase5. Many people around the world are intolerant to the behavior of others. The results are deaths and other atrocities committed against the innocent. The churches today are no longer speaking in the same language. What one church upholds is exactly the doctrine the other church abhors. This has led to huge confusion in our current churches as leaders publicly disagree even on some fundamental principles. For instance, for a long time, Catholic priests have not been marrying. This has been one of the most important fundamental principles of this church. However, some of the catholic leaders have come out to oppose this principle. This brings about a lot of confusion to church members who trust and believe in their leaders6. The Bible talks about homosexuality, especially the cases of Sodom and Gomorrah. However, some leaders of the church support this behavior right inside the church. This brings a lot of confusion. There is need for proper guidance in the church. The society should be guided by religious values regarding what should be done and what should be avoided7. All these relate to ethics and the teachings of Jesus. Jesus gave a bar on how followers should behave.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Religious Teachings: Carl Barth – Church Dogmatic specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This is what we need to emulate. Ethics and the teachings of Jesus have been brought out in the scholarly works of Carl Barth. It was therefore very important to undertake research in order to avoid current confusions and bring harmony in our current society8. It is important to shed more light on some of the fundamental issues in the church. Some church leaders are taking advantage of the confusion to introduce some habits that are bringing even further confusion. Discussion Carl Barth’s teachings were based on two main principles that closely guided his research work. This scholar was concerned about bringing a clear understanding of the forces around the world, which made people behave in a certain manner. He evaluated the relevance of people’s behavior in relation to the teachings of Jesus and the Bible’s message9. Carl Barth went against some of the principles of renowned scholars. In his first volume, he discussed the doctrine of Gog’s word. He tried to give the revelation of God. In God’s word, there was power. The word of God sets out to members of the church to help them in understanding the best practices in life. In the current society, it is very important to follow the word of God. Failing to follow his word may lead human beings into many sufferings. In his second volume of the doctrines of the word of God, the scholar brings out incantation of God’s word10. He explores the role and nature of the scripture. The scripture is the word of God because men of God wrote it after being inspired by God himself. In fact, Barth says that the authors of all the books in the Bible were writing the message given to them by God. A clear point is the Book of Revelation. In this book , God himself revealed to John the activities that would take place before the world would end11. The message in this book may be a little more challenging to understand because unlike other books talking about history, this book talks about the future. It would only be through God himself that God’s servant, John, could understand the future. In Exodus 20, God talks directly to Moses giving him the Ten Commandments. It is a clear demonstration that the Bible is the word of God.Advertising Looking for research paper on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Given this fact, how then should we approach the bible? Some scholars have argued that there are some little contradictions between the old and the New Testament12. Of point to note is the ‘eye for an eye’ law that existed in the Mosaic Law. This was quite contrary to the teachings of Jesus. Jesus teaches his disciples that they should forgive seventy by seven times when wronged by an individual. How then would the same bible encourage forgiveness while there is a law that demands that the punishment should be meeting evil with an equal evil? However, Barth dispels these contradictions in his work saying that the followers should follow the teachings of Jesus13. This scholar says that when such contradictions arise in any parts of the bible, the guiding light should be ethics. The bible is based on ethics. Before acting in any given manner, the guiding light should be the ethics. In fact, this scholar argues that the bible has no contradiction at all unless one looks at it from a facial value. The bible records that during different times, there were different situations that demanded different actions. Barth argues that those different moments called for different actions from people. When God gave the Israelites commandments in the wilderness and other laws, it was supposed to help them to manage the challenges in the wilderness. This scholar notes that God gave the Israelites the power to kill their enemies. However, the commandments state that we should not kill. The message is clear and therefore it should not be interpreted differently. When he said that we should not kill, he was helping us to appreciate the fact that we should live as protectors of one another in society14. Procedure of the Study This study focuses on the works of Carl Barth. Carl Birth wrote a number of volumes of books, each with different approach. In this study, the researcher has focused on two main principles that Carl Barth held in his teachings. The study will anal ytically evaluate the teachings of Carl Barth on Jesus and ethics and determine how they lead to the generation of other principles. This scholar talks about the word of God, creation, and reconciliation among other principles. However, they all revolve around the two principles of Jesus’ teachings and ethics. This study will therefore relate the two main principles and the doctrines that this scholar bases his teachings on. Barth’s View of Trinity Barth’s work was considered revolutionary, given the then held beliefs. Barth’s work was a huge shift from what existed before. Many have considered the work of this scholar a little controversial15. It has been very challenging to understand the arguments of this scholar concerning trinity. By the time Barth started his work, trinity was not a new thing in the theological field. Several scholars had discussed it and many had given their view on the same. The work of Barth shows that he did not change the perce ption but gave it a new position. He gave trinity a front position in his work dubbed church dogmatic. His modalism approach has particularly received massive criticism from various fronts. His perception towards the use of the word ‘person’ has been a shift from what had been the norm for a long time. He dismissed tritheism as a heresy and baseless reasoning that could not hold in the current society16. Barth argued that God is one, and therefore he should be referred to as a mode of being. This way, he argues that people will eliminate any misunderstanding among themselves, Christian scholars, and even the leaders. Comparing Baths Findings and the Contemporary Thought of Knowledge Bath’s findings have proven to be very relevant in the contemporary world. In the current society, many theological scholars have found relevance in the teachings of Carl Birth. Carl Birth emphasized on two main issues for his readers. The first one was Jesus. This scholar says that J esus’ teachings should be the basis of learning for the current scholars. He says that Jesus taught the word of God with an open mind. He holds that when understanding the teachings of Jesus, one should have an open mind. Religion should not be considered a burden17. It is not meant to punish the believers by imposing retrogressive rules on the faithful. The teachings of Jesus and religion for that matter are meant to help people live in peace. Religion explains how people should relate with one another to ensure peaceful coexistence. For this reason therefore, the current society should be weary of the religion that is oppressive. Religion that dictates oppressive rules on its followers should be avoided at all costs18. The religion should help people live peacefully and happily. In this regard, religion should not deny people happiness. The second basis of Carl Barth’s work is on ethics. Ethics is the core of the religion according to the teachings of Barth. Religion and ethics are inseparable. Barth argues that religion teaches one to behave ethically19. In all the teachings of this scholar, he has emphasized the need for all societal members, especially the leaders, to maintain ethics in all their actions. It is important that a spiritual leader base his teachings on the ethical grounds other than on some of the Mosaic laws that have become archaic20. Some laws that were given to Moses during their journey to the Promised Land may not apply in the current world. It would therefore be important to ensure that ethics and religion are viewed as one. Conclusion Carl Birth was one of the greatest theologians in the twentieth century. His work has widely been considered very useful in the contemporary world. This theologian dedicated his life to writing books and other articles on various aspects of religion. Church dogmatic is a comprehensive work done by this scholar about the church and its relevance to the society. This scholar based his work o n two factors. The first factor was Jesus Christ. On this front, he held that everything starts with Jesus. The foundation would start with Jesus and then other factors would come afterwards. Jesus is the rock upon which Christian religion is based. One may not understand Christianity without understanding Jesus himself. By understanding Jesus, one would be in a position to understand his principles and therefore the principles of Christianity. Ethics, according to this scholar, is not separable from religion. It is important to appreciate the fact that religion is an attempt to shape the habit of people. The scholar holds that a careful analysis of the teachings of Jesus is based on ethics. He gave a lot of priority on ethical behavior, and never allowed any of his disciples to be swayed otherwise. A society that respects religion and maintains ethics is the one that would easily be prosperous and very peaceful. It is important that as a Christian, and based on the teachings of Car l Barth, one should strive to understand the teachings of Jesus and relate them to ethics. As discussed above, there should be an effort to ensure that ethics and religion are blended. It would be baseless to maintain a religious lifestyle without observing religious standards. In the society, the two are inseparable and therefore should be treated as one. This way, one would be in a position to lead a successful Christian life. Bibliography Baker, Benson. Crucial Moments: The 12 Most Important Events in Black Adventism. Hagerstown: Review and Herald, 2005. Cranfield, Christe. The Gospel According to St. Mark: An Introduction and Commentary. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1963. Dowd, Samuel. Reading Mark: A Literary and Theological Commentary. Macon: Smyth Helwys, 2000. France, Richard. The Gospel of Mark: A Commentary on the Greek Text. New International Greek Commentary. Grand Rapids. Mich: Eerdmans, 2002. Gundry, Rose. Mark: A Commentary on His Apology for the Cross. Gra nd Rapids, Mich: Eerdmans, 1993. Hooker, Moses. The Gospel According to St. Mark. Black’s NT Commentary. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1991. Iersel, Brander. Van. Mark: A Reader-Response Commentary. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1988. Mitchell, Jane. Beyond Fear and Silence: A Feminist-Literary Reading of Mark. New York: Continuum, 2001. Myers, Cheiatine. Binding the Strong Man: A Political Reading of Mark’s Story of Jesus. New York: Orbis, 2008. Nineham, Emily. Saint Mark. Pelican Gospel Commentary. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1964. Witherington, Boaz. The Gospel of Mark: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001. Footnotes 1 Witherington, Boaz. The Gospel of Mark: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001. Print. P. 78 2 Myers, Cheiatine. Binding the Strong Man: A Political Reading of Mark’s Story of Jesus. New York: Orbis, 2008. Print. P.16 3 Nineham, Emily. Saint Mark. Pelican Gospel Commentary. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1964. Pr int. P. 56 4 Mitchell, Jane. Beyond Fear and Silence: A Feminist-Literary Reading of Mark. New York: Continuum, 2001. Print. P.43 5 Mitchell, Jane. Beyond Fear and Silence: A Feminist-Literary Reading of Mark. New York: Continuum, 2001. Print. P. 42 6 Iersel, Brander. Van. Mark: A Reader-Response Commentary. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1988. Print. P.34 7 Mitchell, Jane. Beyond Fear and Silence: A Feminist-Literary Reading of Mark. New York: Continuum, 2001. Print. P.56 8 Myers, Cheiatine. Binding the Strong Man: A Political Reading of Mark’s Story of Jesus. New York: Orbis, 2008. Print. P.46 9 Hooker, Moses. The Gospel According to St. Mark. Black’s NT Commentary. Peabody: Hendrickson. 1991. Print. P. 112 10 Gundry, Rose. Mark: A Commentary on His Apology for the Cross. Grand Rapids, Mich: Eerdmans, 1993. Print. P. 51 11 France, Richard. The Gospel of Mark: A Commentary on the Greek Text. New International Greek Commentary. Grand Rapids. Mich: Eerdmans, 2002. Print. P. 67 12 France, Richard. The Gospel of Mark: A Commentary on the Greek Text. New International Greek Commentary. Grand Rapids. Mich: Eerdmans, 2002. Print. P. 94 13 Dowd, Samuel. Reading Mark: A Literary and Theological Commentary. Macon: Smyth Helwys, 2000. Print. P. 71 14 Cranfield, Christe. The Gospel According to St. Mark: An Introduction and Commentary. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1963. Print. P. 62 15 Baker, Benson. Crucial Moments: The 12 Most Important Events in Black Adventism. Hagerstown: Review and Herald, 2005. Print. P 40 16 Witherington, Boaz. The Gospel of Mark: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001. Print.p. 129 17 Nineham, Emily. Saint Mark. Pelican Gospel Commentary. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1964. Print. P. 67 18 Nineham, Emily. Saint Mark. Pelican Gospel Commentary. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1964. Print. P. 126 19 Myers, Cheiatine. Binding the Strong Man: A Political Reading of Mark’s Story of Jesus. New York: Orbis, 2008. Print. P. 28 20Cranfield, Christe. The Gospel According to St. Mark: An Introduction and Commentary. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1963. Print. P. 39 This research paper on Religious Teachings: Carl Barth – Church Dogmatic was written and submitted by user Eliza Hogan to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

The Castle Doctrine and Stand Your Ground Laws

The Castle Doctrine and Stand Your Ground Laws Recent events involving the use of deadly force by private individuals have brought the so-called Castle Doctrine and stand your ground laws under intense public scrutiny. Both based on the universally acknowledged right of self-defense, what are these increasingly controversial legal principles?   Stand your ground laws allow people who believe they face a reasonable threat of death of great bodily harm to meet force with force rather than retreat from their attacker. Similarly, Castle Doctrine laws allow persons who are being attacked while in their homes to use force- including deadly force- in self-defense, often without the need to retreat.   Currently, more than half of the states in the U.S. have some forms of Castle Doctrine or stand your ground laws.   Castle Doctrine Theory The Castle Doctrine originated as a  theory of early common law, meaning it was a universally accepted natural right of self-defense rather than a formally written law. Under its common law interpretation, the Castle Doctrine gives people the right to use deadly force to defend their home, but only after having used every reasonable means to avoid doing so and trying to retreat safely from their attacker.   While some states still apply the common law interpretation, most states have enacted written, statutory versions of Castle Doctrine laws specifically spelling out what is required or expected of persons before resorting to the use of deadly force. Under such Castle Doctrine laws, defendants facing  criminal charges who successfully prove they acted in self-defense according to the law may be fully cleared of any wrongdoing.  Ã‚   Castle Doctrine Laws in Court   In actual legal practice, formal state Castle Doctrine laws limit where, when, and who can legally use deadly force. As in all cases involving self-defense, defendants must prove their actions were justified under the law. The burden of proof is on the defendant.   Even though the Castle Doctrine statutes differ by state, many states utilize the same basic requirements for a successful Castle Doctrine defense. The four typical elements of a successful Castle Doctrine defense are:   The defendant must have been inside his or her home when attacked and the building must be the defendants regular place of residence. Attempts to apply the Castle Doctrine to defend the use of deadly force during attacks that happen in the defendants yard or lot, but outside the home, typically fail.  There must have been an actual attempt to illegally enter the defendants home. Merely standing threateningly at the door or on the lawn will not qualify. In addition, the Castle Doctrine does not apply if the defendant had allowed the victim into the home, but decided to force them to leave.In most states, the use of deadly force must have been reasonable under the circumstances. Typically, defendants who are unable to prove they were in actual danger of physical injury will not be allowed to claim defense under a Castle Doctrine law.Some states still apply the common law Castle Doctrine edict that defendants have some level of duty to retreat or avoid the confrontation before using d eadly force. Most state castle laws no longer require defendants to flee from their homes before using deadly force.   In addition, persons claiming the Castle Doctrine as a defense cannot have started or have been the aggressor in the confrontation that resulted in the charges against them.   The Castle Doctrine Duty to Retreat   By far the most-often  challenged element of the Castle Doctrine is the defendants duty to retreat from the intruder. While the older common law interpretations required defendants to have made some effort to retreat from their attacker or avoid the conflict, most state laws no longer impose a duty to retreat. In these states, defendants are not required to have fled from their home or to another area of their home before using deadly force.   At least 17 states impose some form of duty to retreat before using deadly force in self-defense. Since the states remain split on the issue, attorneys advise that persons should fully understand the Castle Doctrine and duty to retreat laws in their state.   Stand Your Ground Laws State-enacted stand your ground laws- sometimes called no duty to retreat laws- are often used as an allowable defense in criminal cases involving the use of deadly force by defendants who literally stood their ground, rather than retreating, in order to defend themselves and others against actual or reasonably perceived threats of bodily harm. In general, under stand your ground laws, private individuals who are in any place they have a lawful right to be at the time may be justified in using any level of force whenever they reasonably believe they face an imminent and immediate threat of great bodily injury or death.   Persons who were engaged in illegal activities, such as drug deals or robberies, at the time of the confrontation are typically not entitled to the protections of stand your ground laws.   In essence, stand your ground laws effectively extend the protections of the Castle Doctrine from the home to any place a person has a legal right to be. Currently, 28 states have legislatively enacted stand your ground laws. Another eight states apply the legal principles of stand your ground laws though courtroom practices, such as citation of past case law as precedent and judges instructions to juries.   Stand Your Ground Law Controversy   Critics of stand your ground laws, including  many gun control advocacy groups, often call them â€Å"shoot first† or â€Å"get away with murder† laws that make it difficult to prosecute people who shoot others claiming they acted in self-defense. They argue that in many cases the only eyewitness to the incident who could have testified against the defendants claim of self-defense is dead.Prior to passage of Floridas stand your ground law, Miami police chief John F. Timoney called the law dangerous and unnecessary. Whether its trick-or-treaters or kids playing in the yard of someone who doesnt want them there or some drunk guy stumbling into the wrong house, youre encouraging people to possibly use deadly physical force where it shouldnt be used, he said.   The Trayvon Martin Shooting The fatal shooting of teenager Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman in February 2012, brought â€Å"stand your ground† laws squarely into the public spotlight. Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch captain in Sanford, Florida, gunned down the unarmed 17-year-old Martin minutes after reporting to the police that he had spotted a suspicious youth walking through the gated community. Despite being told by police to stay in his SUV, Zimmerman pursued Martin on foot. Moments later, Zimmerman confronted Martin and admitted to shooting him in self-defense after a brief scuffle. Sanford police reported that Zimmerman was bleeding from the nose and back of the head. As a result of the police investigation, Zimmerman was charged with second degree murder. At trial, Zimmerman was acquitted based on the jury’s finding that he had acted in self-defense. After reviewing the shooting for potential civil rights violations, the federal Department of Justice, citing insufficient evidence, filed no additional charges.   Before his trial, Zimmermans defense hinted that they would ask the court to drop the charges under Floridas stand your ground self-defense law. The law enacted in 2005, allows individuals to use deadly force when they reasonably feel they are at risk of great bodily harm while engaged in a confrontation.   While Zimmermans lawyers never argued for a dismissal based on the stand your ground law, the trial judge instructed the jury that Zimmerman had had a right to stand his ground and use deadly force if reasonably necessary to defend himself.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Apple Paper Information

Apple Paper Information Apple Paper Information Founded in 1975 initially to sell personal computers, Apple, Inc. is now among the world’s most recognizable and successful multinational corporations. Apple is the world’s second largest information technology company and third largest mobile phone producer (Wikipedia, 2014, para. 3). Apple’s enormous success is evidence of the drive and tenacity of its founders Steve Jobs, Ronald Wayne, Steve Wozniak. The highly revered Steve Jobs succumbed to cancer in 2011 but is still regarded for his wisdom, leadership, innovation, and insight. The company designs, develops, and sells consumer electronics, computer software, online services, and personal computers. Apple’s well branded product line is led by the coveted iPhone which is an internet supported smartphone that merges mobile phone capabilities, a wireless internet device and iPod into one handheld unit. Also popular is the iPad computer tablet which can also be used for emailing, playing music, photo graphy, videography, gaming, and social networking. Apple’s media player is the iPod which is a portable device which serves as a media library and plays both audio and audiovisual files. The iPod uses the Apple owned iTunes software application for categorizing, downloading, and playing digital files for multiple Apple products. The Mac personal computer was Apple’s first product which is beneficial for personal and business use. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Inc. Founded in 1975 initially to sell personal computers, Apple, Inc. is now among the world’s most recognizable and successful multinational corporations. Apple is the world’s second largest information technology company and third largest mobile phone producer. The company designs, develops, and sells consumer electronics, computer software, online services, and personal computers. Apple’s well branded product line is led by the coveted iPhone which is an internet supported smartph one that merges mobile phone capabilities, a wireless internet device and iPod into one handheld unit. Also popular is the iPad computer tablet which can also be used for emailing, playing music, photography, videography, gaming, and social networking. Apple’s media player is the iPod which is a portable device which serves as a media library and plays both audio and audiovisual files. The iPod uses the Apple owned iTunes software application for categorizing, downloading, and playing digital files for multiple Apple products. The Mac personal computer was Apple’s first product which is beneficial for personal and business use. The company’s success is evidence of the drive and tenacity of its founders Steve Jobs, Ronald Wayne, Steve Wozniak. The highly revered Steve Jobs succumbed to cancer in 2011 but is still regarded for his wisdom, leadership, innovation, and insight. Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation headquartered in Cupertino, California, that designs, develops, and sells consumer electronics, computer software, online services, and personal computers. Its best-known hardware products are the Mac line of computers, the iPod media player, the iPhone smartphone, and the iPad tablet computer. Its online services include iCloud, iTunes Store, and App Store. Apple's consumer software includes the OS X and iOS operating systems, the iTunes media browser, the Safari web browser, and the iLife and iWork creativity and productivity suites. Apple was founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne on April 1, 1976, to develop and sell personal computers. It was incorporated as Apple Computer, Inc. on January 3, 1977, and was renamed as Apple Inc. on January 9, 2007, to reflect its shifted focus towards consumer electronics. Apple is the world's second-largest information technology company by revenue after Samsung Electronics, and the world's third-largest mobile phone maker after Samsung and Nokia.[5] Fortune magazine named Apple the most admired company in the United States in 2008, and in the world

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Analysis of the Arabian Construction Companys Costs Essay

Analysis of the Arabian Construction Companys Costs - Essay Example ACC tries to minimize costs by cutting down on some of its expenditure. The expenditure on unnecessary variable costs is cut down to ensure efficiency. Analysis of the firm’s market structure Arabian Construction Company is operating in a perfectly competitive market, which has many buyers and sellers. The forces of demand and supply therefore determine the prices of the products offered by the company. Among the competitors of ACC, we have the Larsen & Toubro, which carries out large-scale construction projects and designs. The other is the DLF, which deals in the development of housing and retailing in property as well. The company has developed over 70 million square units of housing projects up to date. The firms in the construction industry do not deal on single products qualifying them to be in a perfect competition form of market. The industry is free to enter and free to exit with very few legal formalities placed by the government governing company registration hence no barriers to entry into the market. Any firm which feels can withstand the fierce competition in the field can enter the market. The firms are also not forced to stay in the market hence they can a lways leave at their pleasure most so if they are not able to compete favorably (Etro & Federico, pg.132). The firms in this market are therefore neither price takers nor price makers; the forces of market, which are the forces of demand and supply, dictate the prices of their outputs. Profits are therefore highly regulated.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Law Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Law - Case Study Example Damages as well as remedies that can be awarded will also be explored. In this particular case, Jill has to prove the kind as well as the authenticity of the employment law. She has to prove that the contract itself is somehow suppressive as it strips her off her rights. She is hired as an independent contractor but the terms of the contract reflect otherwise. The contract does not want to take full responsibility of her welfare. It seems that right from the beginning, she has no rights and is supposed to abide by the rules and regulations of the contractors. Under normal circumstances, the employment laws in the federal states forbid this practice as it seeks to subdue the employees’ rights as they would not have any power to stand up for their rights. The elements of proof she must prove is the â€Å"arbitration, mediations† clause which requires her to complete this process if there is a contract dispute, and the results will be binding legally and she will waive her future rights in federal and state court to contest any employment violations. In other words, this clause implies that she has no right to contest an employment dispute. Her rights can be violated but she is not given the opportunity to take legal recourse. Indeed, the court is the highest arbiter of disputes among contracting parties but in this case, above mentioned clause prohibits the other party from seeking legal action against the employer.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Who Inspires Me Essay Example for Free

Who Inspires Me Essay Some people think that for someone to inspire you the person still has to be alive. Well in my case I just recently lost the person that inspired me the most. My father, he was the person whom I asked about money, about how to get better at playing golf and about anything else I needed help with. Wesley Doolen Morgan was a sensitive and caring man, who didn’t like to show emotion much. He never said â€Å"I love you† to us, but we all knew he did. When we needed help with buying school supplies or just advice on how to save money he was the one to ask. He may not have been good with money himself but he could teach us what not to do by what he did as an example. Wes had an example for everything we asked like, how do I start a bank account? His answer was â€Å"well not like this then go into a story of how he had messed up. Dad was the ultimate golfer. He had been teaching me to golf since I could walk, and I still love it. Golfing was dads sport, he tried to always do better and encourage me and my brother to try our hardest. Sometimes he lost his temper and started to yell but he always made up for it by ice cream or extra gas money. My brother and I were so proud of how much dad stuck to playing golf and my fathers dedication to teaching beau and I was what made us so proud. That is pure dedication. As you noticed my dad had a long life and I’m proud of what he has done. He was also a sergeant in the Marine Corps. That told me he didn’t mind a challenge. Daddy loved having control and that’s why he worked hard to get up to a sergeant. Im so inspired by how much my dad has helped not only his family but his friends he inquired over the years. He was greatly loved and is missed tremendously by his friends and family.

Friday, November 15, 2019

The Great Depression Essay -- American History

The Great Depression The Big Picture The Great Depression was the longest and most severe economic decline in American history. On October 29, 1929, the stock market crashed and began the depression. Although industry leaders issued optimistic predictions for the nation's economy, the market crash wiped out nearly 40% of the paper values of stocks. Great innovations in productive techniques during and after the war raised the output of industry beyond the purchasing capacity of U.S. farmers and working force. As a result of this, unemployment skyrocketed during the years of the Depression, reaching levels as high as one third of the population. Almost half of the commercial banks of the United States failed during the Depression. Crop prices fell by over fifty percent. People went hungry because so much food was produced that production became unprofitable. Others were unemployed because they had produced more than could be sold. Hundreds of thousands roamed the country in search of food, work, and shelter. Huge numbers of Americans had their lives upset by the Depression. Homelessness, poverty and despair characterized much of the nation in those days. Many of those who could not provide for their families, in larger cities as well as smaller towns, committed suicide to put an end to their troubles. Small Town Life The depression was not limited to the confines of large cities, it spread like a disease throughout our great nation. It even managed to find its way into the small town of Oakesdale, Washington. Frances Taylor, a mere child at this time clearly remembers the events that took place. "As children, we weren't really aware of what was going on. We simply didn't understand the concept of being poor." Many fam... ...ovided the initial 63 million dollars for the project to begin. "My father found work by being part of the construction of Grand Coulee Dam. He would stay on the site while our mother took care of the children back in Oakesdale. He would send the money back to support the family." The Grand Coulee Dam would provide many jobs for the unemployed as well as be used in the upcoming war. It was used primarily for irrigation at first, but as the war progressed it was changed to produce more electricity for the Northwest's aluminum industry. The beginning of World War II would prove to be the factor that directed America out of the Depression. How ironic, that such a horrifying event could spur an economic rejuvenation. The Depression was a trying time, America was at a loss for words and money, but as a nation, we pulled together and got through the worst of the worst.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Solutions to Global Poverty

There are different solutions to Global Poverty nowadays. Foreign aid is considered one of the most effective because it helps in pioneering new ideas for development and solves the budgeting problem that might ruin even the brightest project. There is considerable scope for improving on the current level of foreign aid, around $120 billion per annum. Another solution is tax recovery. Multinational corporations and wealthy elites minimize tax burdens so that poor countries are denied tax revenues from each of these sources exceeding in aggregate the current level of foreign aid. Besides this, investment in the rural economy always pays off. Rewards of economic growth are to be spent on payments for the poor and for immunisation. Of equal importance to local communities and individual households is greater power to control their own affairs.  Control Key and Word – Text and Graphics. An infusion of accountability through democracy and individual rights creates the environment in which governments come under pressure to end wasteful practices and corruption. However the removal of agricultural subsidies that protect American and European farmers is needed to create a favorable atmosphere for the real business competition to take place. A fundamental reordering of priorities is the surest remedy for the poor, as indeed it may be for all of us in search of a sustainable future. Plenty of issues call for fundamental reform of global governance. Undoubtedly, some other sectors where developing countries struggle for treatment are trade, investment, intellectual property rights, climate change and energy. It’s a well-known fact that Brazil, China and Vietnam are countries with the greatest success in poverty reduction. Only their governments control key sectors of their economies and show little inclination to relax those restrictions on human rights and democratic freedom. That’s why we need to find another solution of this consequential issue.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Hallstead Jewelers

We see an increase in the break-even point, both in dollars and in sales tickets, from year 2003 to 2006. This increase is not as dramatic between the years 2003 and 2004 as it is between 2004 and 2006. The increase in break-even point in sales tickets is 1615,80 and 7623,90 respectively. The increase in the first year is due to the increase in fixed costs and also the decrease in sales. The increase between 2004-2006 is due to the dramatic increase of fixed costs because of the bigger store and higher rent and the decrease in contribution margin that is caused by the greater increase in variable costs than sales.The margin of safety on the other hand gradually decreased. The decrease between 2003-04 and 2004-06 are 20% and 47% respectively. The reason for that is the huge increase in break-even point between 2004 and 2006 and the decrease in sales for the years 2003-2004.If the company were to pursue that new idea, the net income of the company would increase to $917,01. The new bre ak-even point would be 9105,56 in sales tickets and $8.203,20 in dollar amount.Assuming that everything stays constant, because sales commissions are variable costs, if will increase the contribution margin per unit which will end up decreasing the break-even sales volume compared to 2006. The new break-even point would be 11 570,86 in sales tickets and $9487 in sales dollars.Because advertising is a fixed cost, an increase in advertising will cause an increase in break-even point. The new break-even point, everything else staying the same, would be 17 912,28 in sales tickets and $ 14.687,17 in sales dollars. Because the outcome of advertising is not certain, it carries a certain amount of risk. I would not recommend that the sisters try this because it is risky for the situation that they are in now.  The average sales ticket have to increase to $840 from $819 ($21 increase) to break-even if the fixed costs remained the same in 2007 as it was 2006.I would recommend the managers a t Hallstead Jewelers to go with the idea of the consultant, the %10 price reduction in order to increase the number of  people visiting the store. If everything goes according to the plan, they can have a profit of $900,90 and even if it doesn’t goes as smoothly as planned, this option has a 39% margin of safety, so it has a large portion of the break even sales to fall back on. Among the options given, this one is the safest and the one that will provide the highest profit.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Who Influenced Michael Jordan to Become the Player and Person He is Today essays

Who Influenced Michael Jordan to Become the Player and Person He is Today essays Who Influenced Michael Jordan to Become the Player and Person He is Today? 1. Bye, Bye, Bye (Retirement from the Game) Well everyone has theyre own opinion about Michael Jordan, but one thing is certain, he is a phenomenal athlete with a unique combination of grace, power, artistry and the improvisational ability. He is not only the top player of his Era, but is quite possibly the best player to wear the uniform of a NBA team. He is the most recognizable athlete in the world and is believed to be the best there ever was, is, or ever will be. (NBA.com) A person to this magnitude has obviously a success, being able to have a family of his own and, knowing that there are thousands of people looking up to him, and being many peoples idol. To be able to stand the pressure of being a national symbol of greatness, you have to have a driving force. This driving force has been known to be the edge a lot of people have needed to make it over. Michael Jordans family helped him to fight and become one of the most influential, successful, and professional Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born on February 17, 1963, in Brooklyn, NY, to a proud Deloris and James Jordan. (Nba.com; BioLife.com) Now this very first point may seem like no big deal but its something in itself. Jordan almost wasnt born. In 1963, when Deloris was carrying Mike her mother died unexpectedly causing her to fall into a deep depression and stress period. Fearing a miscarriage the family doctor ordered her to bed rest. (Greene 12; NBA.com) I always said that Michaels birth was like a sign. I lost my mother w ...

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

How to Become a National Merit Semifinalist

How to Become a National Merit Semifinalist SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Every October, about 1.6 million juniors across the country take the PSAT. Those who score in the top 1% achieve the distinction of National Merit Semifinalist. Most of these students move on to become National Merit Finalists, with some winning scholarship money for college. Being named a National Merit Semifinalist is a huge achievement along the path to college. Let’s take a look at what you need to do to become a National Merit Semifinalist. Basic Entry Requirements forNational Merit Semifinalists To become a Semifinalist and be eligible for a National Merit Scholarship, you must meet the following four requirements set by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC): Be enrolled as a high school student, progressing normally toward graduation.This just means that you’re taking and passing a normal number of classes and expect to graduate on time. Plan to enroll full-time in college starting the fall following high school graduation. In other words, you can’t postpone college to spend a year abroad, work full-time, and so on. Be a U.S. citizen or lawful U.S. permanent resident planning to become a U.S. citizen. Earn a top PSAT score.The definition of a "top" score varies by state, but generally you'll need to score in the top 1% of juniors to qualify. But what PSAT score do you need exactly? Keep reading because in the next section we explain exactly how high your PSAT score needs to be to qualify you for Semifinalist status. To be eligible for National Merit, you must plan to start college in the fall after your high school graduation. National Merit SemifinalistQualifying Scores The NMSCuses its own Selection Index to determine which students qualify as Commended Students and Semifinalists. In general, students who score in thetop 3-4%are named Commended Scholars, while students who score in the top 1% are deemed Semifinalists. Students are compared on astate-by-state basis.The NMSC's Selection Index ranges from 48 to 228 and is based on PSAT section scores. There are three PSAT section scores (one each for Math, Reading, and Writing and Language). Each section score ranges from 8 to 38. To calculate your Selection Index, you simplyadd your three PSAT section scores together and then multiply the sum by 2. Let's say you got 28 on Reading, 32 on Writing and Language, and 34 on Math. To find your Selection Index score, first add your section scores together: 28 + 32 + 34 = 94. Then, multiply the sum by 2 (94 * 2 = 188). This gives you a Selection Index score of 188. As you'll see in the chart below, a 188 Selection Index score isn't high enough toqualify for National Merit Semifinalist status. Instead, you'll need a Selection Index of 212 or higher, depending on where you take the test. Based on reports from individuals around the country, we've put together a comprehensive list of qualifying PSAT Selection Index scores. Check out the most recent state cutoffs for National Merit Semifinalist in the chart below. These were used to pick out Semifinalists from the October 2017 administration of the PSAT. State Selection Index Alabama 216 Alaska 215 Arizona 220 Arkansas 214 California 223 Colorado 221 Connecticut 222 Delaware 222 DC 223 Florida 219 Georgia 220 Hawaii 220 Idaho 214 Illinois 221 Indiana 219 Iowa 216 Kansas 218 Kentucky 218 Louisiana 217 Maine 217 Maryland 223 Massachusetts 223 Michigan 219 Minnesota 220 Mississippi 215 Missouri 217 Montana 214 Nebraska 216 Nevada 218 New Hampshire 219 New Jersey 223 New Mexico 215 New York 221 North Carolina 220 North Dakota 212 Ohio 219 Oklahoma 215 Oregon 221 Pennsylvania 220 Rhode Island 220 South Carolina 216 South Dakota 215 Tennessee 219 Texas 221 Utah 215 Vermont 216 Virginia 222 Washington 222 West Virginia 212 Wisconsin 216 Wyoming 212 Average Score 218 As you can see, scores vary depending on where you take the test. Cutoffsregularly vary a few points between years, so if you haven't taken the PSAT yet and are aiming for National Merit, set your target Selection Index about2-5 points higher than the predicted cutoff for your state. After you take the PSAT, there's nothing more you can do to be named Semifinalist until the results are announced. The NMSC notifies eligible students in September the following school year. Disappointed with your scores? Want to improve your SAT score by 160points?We've written a guide about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: What Are the Steps to Becoming a National Merit Semifinalist? You now know the requirements for becoming a National Merit Semifinalist, and you have a plan to get a top PSAT score. But what are the actual steps to becoming a Semifinalist?The process begins early in your junior year and can last all the way until the end of your senior year. Below is an outline of the key steps you'll need to take to become a Semifinalist. Junior Year October: Take the PSAT You’ll take the PSAT on a Wednesday or Saturday in October of your junior year. Because you'll be competing with about 1.6 million juniors, it's important to study diligently for the PSAT (as you would for the SAT or ACT) by taking official PSAT practice tests andtargeting your weaknesses in your prep.(We give you more PSAT prep tips in the next section.) Remember, only the top 1% of juniors qualify for Semifinalist status, so you'll need to be at the top of your game on test day! Aiming for a National Merit Scholarship but worried your score won't qualify? If you're not sure you can self-study your way to a qualifying PSAT score, you'll love our PSAT prep program, PrepScholar. We designed our program to learn your strengths and weaknesses through advanced statistics and customize your prep to be as effective as possible for you. When you start with PrepScholar, you’ll take a diagnostic that will determine your weaknesses in over forty PSAT skills. PrepScholar then creates a study program specifically customized for you. To improve each skill, you’ll take focused lessons dedicated to each skill, with over 20 practice questions per skill. This will train you for your specific area weaknesses, so your time is always spent most effectively to raise your score. We also force you to focus on understanding your mistakes and learning from them. If you make the same mistake over and over again, we'll call you out on it. There’s no other prep system out there that does it this way, which is why we get better score results than any other program on the market. Check it out today with a 5-day free trial: December: Receive PSAT Scores You’ll typically get your PSAT scores in early December,about six weeks after you take the test. While you'll be able to see how well you scored and whether you meet your state's most recent National Merit Semifinalist cutoff, remember thatthese cutoffs can change slightly each year, so you won’t know for sure whether you're a Semifinalist until the beginning of your senior year. Winter/Spring: NMSC Determines High Scorers During this time, the NMSC determines the 50,000 high scorers who quality for the National Merit program. Senior Year September: Semifinalists Announced In early Septemberof your senior year, you’ll finally learn whether you’re officially a National Merit Semifinalist or not. Of the 50,000 high scorers determined, 16,000 will become Semifinalists, and the remaining 34,000 will be recognized as Commended Students (but won’t move forward with the National Merit Program). Fall: Apply to Be a Finalist After you’ve been recognized as a Semifinalist, you’ll begin the Finalist application process. To apply, you’ll need to submit the following materials: High school transcript SAT scores (must be received by December 31) Information about your activities and leadership roles A personal essay A recommendation from your high school principal, or someone the principal designates as a school official Information about your school’s curricula and grading system There’s no official cutoff for SAT scores or GPA, but the NMSC is looking for strong grades and test scores to prove that your PSAT scores weren’t just a fluke. February: Finalists Announced In February, 15,000 of the 16,000 Semifinalists are named Finalists and can apply for National Merit Scholarships. March: Scholarship Winners Announced Finally, 7,500 of the finalists learn that they are National Merit Scholarship winners. Each winner receives a $2,500-a-year National Merit Scholarship, a corporate-sponsored scholarship, and/or a college-sponsored scholarship. How Do You Get the PSAT Score You Need to Become a National Merit Semifinalist? Alright, so you’re going to need an amazing score on the PSAT in order to meet the National Merit Semifinalist cutoff. Getting that score can be tough, but follow these three tips as you prepare in order to get your best PSAT score. #1: Take Practice Tests Doing well on the PSAT is all about preparation. Studying the content and format of the test is the best way to bring your score up. Some people are natural test takers, while others stress under pressure. Regardless of how you react to timed tests, preparing with high quality, relevant materials is the best way to position yourself toward top scores. Since the College Board makes the PSAT, its online practice questions are a great place to start. Below are two official practice PSATs you can use for free.You can also find more free and official PSAT practice tests in our guide. Official PSAT Practice Test 1 - Score Your Test - Answer Explanations Official PSAT Practice Test 2 - Score Your Test - Answer Explanations Take these practice tests under typical test conditions:work in a quiet area with few distractions and time yourself in accordance with official PSAT time limits. Taking timed tests is a skill, and practicing this skill will help you get better and better at the PSAT. Understanding the format of the test will also help you eliminate the potential for careless errors. #2: Identify and Strengthen Your Weak Areas It’s not enough, however, to take just one practice test and then immediately move on to the next one.As you’re studying and answering practice problems, try to identify your weaknesses.Are there any patterns in your mistakes? Do you need more practice with Reading questions? Grammar? Vocabulary? Algebra? Probability? Figure out where you need to focus your attention to really strengthen your overall PSAT score. At the same, you might also be able to push up your overall score by playing to your strengths. The NMSC considers your composite score rather than your individual section scores. For example, if you scored 650 on the Math section of a practice test, it might be easy for you to push that up to 750+. Or if you’re stronger at Reading and Writing, you might be able to add more points to your composite score by focusing your energies on those two sections. Just remember that, ultimately, you can’t have any low section scores on the PSAT if you want to become a National Merit Finalist. So try to staystrong across all areas of the test! #3: Set Goals and Track Your Progress Becoming a National Merit Semifinalist is a lofty goal, and in order to make sure you’re on track to meet it, you need to know early on what PSAT to aim for and how much progress you should be making. First, use the above chart to figure out what the cutoff is for your state. You might want to add a point or two just to be safe and take into account any potential increases in the cutoff score. Once you have your overall PSAT goal score, set smaller goals to accomplish throughout your studying. These can be monthly or weekly goals depending on what works best for your schedule. Some ideas could beto try to develop a better understanding of algebra questions by the end of the week, or to try to raise your total PSAT score 20 points by the end of the month. No matter your goals, regularly check to see that you’re (on your way to) meeting them. If not, figure out what you can do to improve, such as studying more often or changing up your study methods. Setting regular goals will not only help you stay motivated but will also ensure that you’re making the progress you need to be making to get the score you want on test day. How to Stay Motivated for the PSAT In addition to planning how you'll prep for the PSAT, you should ask yourself another important question: how will you stay motivated?Staying motivated is key to sustaining your studying. Why do you want to do well on the PSAT? What drives you? Some reasons students strive to become National Merit Semifinalists are academic recognition, scholarship money,and getting into college.What are your own personal reasons? Write down your ideas, and look back at this list for inspiration whenever you feel your motivation lagging. Since the PSAT is closely linked to the SAT, any studying you do now will definitely pay off when you take the SAT. Plus, it’s probably easier for you to find free time now than when you’re immersed in college applications senior year. Achieving a qualifying score or higher takes a lot of hard work. The benefits of this hard work don’t end when you get a certificate in the mail from the NMSC recognizing you as a semifinalist in September of your senior year. You can prove to yourself and to others the depth of your commitment and drive by putting your hopes into action and your dreams into determination. After all, this focused, purposeful effort is the key to achieving success in anything you do! What's Next? Being named Semifinalist is just the first step. Learn what it takes to become a National Merit Finalist and how to increase your chances of winning a scholarship. Did you know there are four kinds of National Merit Scholarshipsand more than 8,000 are awarded each year? Read all about the various scholarshipshere. Want to score a perfect SAT score?Check out our easy-to-read guide on how to do just that, written by an expert 1600 scorer. Want to improve your SAT score by 160points?We have the industry's leading SAT prep program. Built by Harvard grads and SAT full scorers, the program learns your strengths and weaknesses through advanced statistics, then customizes your prep program to you so you get the most effective prep possible. Check out our 5-day free trial today: Have friends who also need help with test prep? Share this article! Tweet Rebecca Safier About the Author Rebecca graduated with her Master's in Adolescent Counseling from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has years of teaching and college counseling experience and is passionate about helping students achieve their goals and improve their well-being. She graduated magna cum laude from Tufts University and scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT. Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Get FREE EXCLUSIVE insider tips on how to ACE THE SAT/ACT. 100% Privacy. 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